5dollarsplash

In the northern Midwest, all the muskie fisherman use/want Calcutta's or C3's depending on budget. Personally I love my lexa 300.

Well put Felix.

It does a nice job in the rivers in my area. I was sorely tempted to pick one up, but I managed to beat the bait monkey off for a little while longer. My friend has 3 of the Fenwick smallmouth rods, and has the same one that fishguy613 bought. Does great with a 1/4 or bitsy flip with a smaller trailer like a single tail grub.

Sounds like a good time, and if your like me losing one jig justifies buying a handful of new ones!!! Setting the hook with a jig is right up there with topwater bites in my book.

^^^Got the same rod with my Curado 50e and its a great to fish. I may have to look for a Calcutta 50 soon..... Back on topic- I use my larger reels sparingly for bass, I don't fish the big swimbaits up here targeting them. I'll use them for C-Rigs or BIG deep cranks.

Palomar knot

The word "Spade" is in the description. Definiton: a tool for digging, having an iron blade adapted for pressing into the ground with the foot and a long handle commonly with a grip or crosspiece at the top, and with the blade usually narrower and flatter than that of a shovel To me that means getting hung up more and losing baits more. I can do that plenty with a $3 dollar jig, and won't be so bad at the end of the day. The head just looks like it would be good at wedging itself in bad places to me.

Yes to both of these RW! I haven't gotten my order in yet with Shellcrackers, but the Menace is a proven producer! I've also gone from a variety of brands in my jig box to just using the hand tied jigs from Siebert and Northstar, they really do hold up better and they really instill CONFIDENCE <-Huge IMO

My two are my favorites. I love the feel they have, no doubts about rock solid hooksets. The customer service is top notch. All that said, I don't have the rod in a action specifically for jerk baits. Mine are both f or xf. I'd try to get one in my hands before laying down the money. Personally for moving baits I prefer a lesser line like the Avid/rage. Maybe not quite as sensitive but save some $.

I love this. I've been trying to get people in the boat to set the hook harder, see so many fish get away on bad hooksets. From now on this will be how I explain it to them!

Mikes jigs are slowly taking over my tackle bag. Just put in another order yesterday, had a few questions and Mike answered them very promptly. Can't recommend him highly enough.

I have a older generation Revo S with the brakes set that way. I haven't noticed any issues. Although its not my most used set up I have, it has been around a few years now. I don't claim to be a expert on them though. Hopefully one of the guys who fishes them hard will weigh in for you.

And as we all get better as fishermen, and more confident in all of the lures we have, hopefully we're learning when we need to switch. When learning a new technique, or trying to become confident in one, I totally agree with focusing on that lure and presentation. What I hope to be able to do, is recognize conditions and factors, and feel confident throwing whats necessary to put the fish in the boat. Whether or not its my favorite(jig or frog for me), or something I don't throw unless its whats called for (for me drop shot or weighless rigs).

Scorcher214 nailed it imo. I find myself throwing jigs when searching spots on a brand new lake. Really not the most effective way to cover water. The challange is in remaining versatile. Theres the thread right now on "how do you fish", well "how we like to" and "how we need to" are often different. I like how you can tell an interview is a good honest one with a fishing magazine or online. They will ask the angler "strengths and weaknesses", its reassuring to know as a joe blow that I'm not the only one who dislikes drop shot lol.

I put my 50e on a St. Croix Rage RC68MF, they retail at 150, I didn't pay near that though. The Avid is the same blank but different guides and cork vs neoprene. I really enjoy it set up on there, balances well. I also used it on a St. Croix LTBC610MLXF, it worked great on there, excellent balance, but I love the reel so much I wanted it on something I throw more. And drop shot and light weight is kind of my last resort, thus the move to the Rage. Here's my thread with prior recommendations for rods: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/120489-rod-for-curado-50e/

^^^^^^ ^^^^^^

I have 2 I use primarily: Citica 200E 6:3:1 St. Croix Legend TBC74HF - rated 3/8-1 1/2oz 30lb Power Pro Slick 8 This handles 75% of my jig fishing. As long as it weighs enough I'll throw it on this rig. Curado 50e 6:4:1 St. Croix Rage RC68MXF 30lb Power Pro For bank fishing with a jig, or for lighter jigs. Used the other 25% of the time. I just got a Ardent f500 in last week or so. I've used it a couple of times now and it's growing on me. St. Croix Mojo MBC70MHF Spooled with 80lb Power Pro Used it for heavy flipping/pitching duty. If its in the junk, this is what I use.

I think a lot of it has to do with what your used to and comfortable with. If your used to Suffix, you'll notice everything that Power Pro does different and vice versa. I use PPS8 on most of my reels, I'll get an occasional dig but for how it performs otherwise I'll take the trade off. I notice it more, oddly enough, with my frog set up with higher lb test. I'm trying 832 on one set up and Tufline Supercast on another, like you I notice every little thing they do different than the Power Pro I'm used to. We just need to work out what works best for our situations.

Frogging, as long as the bites decent, I could do all day. If the frog bite is off, I could throw/flip/pitch a 3/8oz Siebert jig for a day just as easily and be content.

I've become a St Croix guy. Being close to the factory and able to handle every model, including the not bass specific rods helps. I'd feel comfortable fishing only their product.

Had never thought of that OE, but awesome idea! I've always done it by hand and it is a pain.

Being in a similar position recently with a 50e, I agree with those who recommend the LTB from St Croix. I love mine so much I just bought another on Friday. Capt Bob is right when it comes to remorse, many rods living in my fishing rack can attest to it.

I'd try what Arv said. Ask your buddy if you can try one out for a bit, especially if he has the model you'd be looking at. I'm not hugely brand loyal, and I find that different brands can excel at different types of rods.

Heading to Lake Thirty by Cumberland this weekend, anyone ever heard of it? I saw a nice stringer of 3-5 lbers caught earlier this summer.

That's a general quote for all the ardent reels woot has. If you look at the site they have 4-5 models.